Abstract:

Electric vehicles (EVs) have started gaining importance as alternative vehicle technology. In the current transition to a smarter and more efficient transportation system, battery electric vehicle mileage and the time required for charging are two main constraints that need to be overcome to enable a larger penetration of electric vehicles. Moreover, the few charging stations available are a consequence of the “supply and demand” problem. The possibility of wireless charging opens new opportunities for wider adoption of EVs, particularly since it would eliminate range anxiety issues due to limited battery capacity, enhancing the feasibility of drivers shift their mobility patterns to EVs. Consequently, wireless dynamic recharging can be a complementary solution to address the problems of light-duty electric mobility and an added value towards autonomous vehicles. This paper presents an innovative approach based on real-world mobility patterns collected for a sample in the city of Lisbon, Portugal, to assess users’ electric vehicle feasibility by evaluating different recharging scenarios, comparing stationary and dynamic recharging scenarios. The results indicate that at least 15 % more drivers would be eligible to own an electric vehicle if wireless charging was available. Moreover, wireless charging reduces the range of battery used, with stationary charging requiring circa 3.2 times more battery range. The developed approach confirms that wireless dynamic recharging can significantly change the framework of current electric mobility limitations, reduce range anxiety issues, redesign electric vehicle battery capacity, and overcome barriers in stationary charging deployment and availability. This result suggests that autonomous vehicles can highly benefit from dynamic wireless charging, becoming almost independent of driver charging routines.